At a press conference, the organizing committee of the 2023 edition of the Hovivi international festival of the arts and citizen speech unveiled the content of this sixth edition (1st edition in its international form). Several countries are expected to take part in this festival, with a number of shows to be discovered at several sites, in both community and educational settings. Find out more about the shows, companies and programming below.
Tuesday December 19 sees the opening of a major artistic event never before seen in Benin’s Plateau department. The first Hôvivi International Festival performances will take place in partner schools from 10 a.m. onwards. In the afternoon, artistic and cultural education workshops on cultural diversity will be held for middle-school pupils.
On Wednesdays, the shows will be taken to orphanages. These orphan children will benefit from the storytelling and puppet shows. Because they too have a right to leisure and entertainment, even though their position doesn’t give them the opportunity. It’s the perfect opportunity to bring smiles and joy to these orphans. During the day, a large artistic caravan of integration and cultural diversity is scheduled for 2 p.m., followed by the opening ceremony. Dance performances and a live concert featuring the African Salsa Ochestra from Pobé, accompanied by the group Arole Oyimbo and the musical community of Ikpinlè are also scheduled for the evening.
Thursday 22nd will be devoted to junior workshops on body movement, diction and corporal expression, followed by a theatrical evening in the festival village. These two activities are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. respectively.
On the penultimate day, there will be senior workshops in cultural administration at 09:00, and a professional meeting (round table) at 15:00 on the use of storytelling, oral heritage as a tool for intercultural dialogue. The grand final of the Hôvivi challenge will pit the twelve ambassadors of storytelling selected from several communes against each other. And to round off the day in style, there’s the big storytelling night. A unique night of storytelling around a village-style bonfire, bringing together professional storytellers from a variety of backgrounds to share tales from near and far with the local community.
The last day of the festival will bring Santa Claus to the village, thanks to CEDAS-ONG. Noel au village is a game of reflection, oration and expression for children in the presence of Santa Claus, followed by the distribution of gifts by Santa with the NGO CEDAS.
